The EPSCoR Foundation and the University of South Dakota, with funding from the NSF EPSCoR program, invite applications in the form of Consulting Support Mini-Proposals from EPSCoR states to request consulting and technical assistance in the development of projects and proposals aimed at competing in NSF Centers and other large-scale, multi-investigator competitions.

Selected Mini-Proposals from this CDI review will receive consulting and technical assistance related to: (i) the initiation of EPSCoR research team-led NSF Centers and other large-scale, multi-investigator programs, and (ii) the infusion of competitive EPSCoR research teams into existing NSF Centers in EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR states.

NSF programs under consideration for initiation and infusion assistance include (but are not limited to) the following: (In addition, some support is available for initiation of and infusion into Centers and other large-scale, multi-investigator programs administered by other federal agencies.)

 Science and Technology Centers (STCs)
 Engineering Research Centers (ERCs)
 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs)
 Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSECs) and large-scale competitions
 Physics Frontiers Centers
 Information Technology Research (ITR) Initiative large-scale competitions
 Partnerships for Advanced Computational Infrastructure (PACI)
 Biocomplexity in the Environment (BE) large-scale competitions
 Long-Term Ecological Research Centers (LTERs)
 Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) large-scale competitions
 Integrated Graduate Education Research and Traineeship (IGERT) Program
 Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLTs)
 Math and Science Partnerships program (MSP)
 Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)
 Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs)
 and other similar programs.

Beginning with this first call for Mini-Proposals, CDI plans to hold similar competitions twice a year to maximize access to project resources and to maintain flexible assistance plans.

Each approved Min-Proposal will receive a unique package of consulting and technical assistance developed via interactions between Principal Investigators in the EPSCoR states and the CDI Senior Associates. The CDI Senior Associate and affiliated consultants will work directly with the EPSCoR research teams providing various kinds of assistance activities, including:

 Reviewing and strengthening proposal drafts
 Helping identify disciplinary consultants and/or current Directors of successful awards in the target NSF Centers program
 Helping identify potential collaborators and securing commitments to participate in the project
 Helping identify and secure national experts for friendly consultation and assistance prior to formal submission to NSF
 Advising on responses to NSF reviewer concerns and proposal addenda requested by the NSF
 Promoting commitments from NSF Center Program Officers and NSF EPSCoR staff to co-fund competitive projects that meet NSF merit review standards
 Assisting Principal Investigators in negotiating collaborative arrangements and financial support associated with Centers infusion to allow EPSCoR groups to extend their activities and collaborate with existing Centers
 Assisting Principal Investigators and NSF EPSCoR State Directors secure necessary commitments from the institution and state

Application Process

Research teams in EPSCoR states are encouraged to submit – via their NSF EPSCoR State Directors – electronic copies of Mini-Proposals (for up to five candidate projects per state) to Rand Haley, randhaley@earthlink.net, on or before the deadline of March 15, 2002. Reviews of Mini-Proposals will begin in early March, and applicants will be notified on or before April 5, 2002.

CDI is prepared to offer short-term consultation and assistance to projects preparing proposals for Centers and other large-scale programs with deadlines in the immediately upcoming months (February-April 2002) as CDI gears up for its first Mini-Proposal competition. Please contact us to discuss such arrangements. In addition, flexibility exists in the CDI project for states to submit requests for assistance throughout the year if a major opportunity presents itself as the result of a special NSF competition or where program deadlines are not compatible with the timing of CDI’s calls for Mini-Proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Each Mini-Proposal will be reviewed by subject matter experts associated with CDI in consultation with outside experts, to the extent possible subject to available resources. Evaluation decisions will be multi-faceted, but fundamentally focused on the potential of projects to be developed into successful Centers initiation or infusion proposals to NSF large-scale programs. For projects that do not currently demonstrate such likelihood of success – but which are promising candidates for future development – CDI Senior Associates will provide feedback to the states, including a discussion of useful activities that would strengthen future efforts.

Proposals should include:

1. A cover page containing the title of the research project, the anticipated target program (for initiation or infusion), a preliminary list of all current and potential investigators/collaborators, and a short abstract of the project
2. A no more than four page Mini-Proposal outlining the project and including:

    A description of candidate area
    The project’s scientific/technical goals and objectives
    A list of current support
    The nature of anticipated consulting and technical assistance needs
    A list of known timelines and target project submission dates

Inquires related to this call for Mini-Proposals should be directed to: